tallest building

Chapter 30 (This last part is a colloquial expression and doesn't need a direct translation.)

"Steward Chen, Master has already worked very hard. You mustn't add to his troubles." As she spoke, Madam Song looked at Gong Xu and coaxed him softly, "Master, please don't get angry. Getting angry will harm your health."

"Yes, Steward Chen, there's no way to keep it a secret anyway, so just tell us frankly! What can't you say in front of the master?" Granny Yang urged. "If you anger the master again, the consequences will be dire."

"Yes, yes," Steward Chen nodded repeatedly. "It was my fault, please don't be angry, Master. Li Fu did nothing wrong; he was implicated by his mother, Liu Mama."

The old servant twisted his ankle at the time and wasn't there; he only heard about it from others. That day, the madam held a grand banquet for guests, and it seems that a room in the courtyard that Liu Mama was looking after was left unlocked, and the fourth young master somehow ran in.

The wife scolded her a few times for this, and Liu's mother insisted on arguing that it was unintentional.

The lady was even more furious and said she would send her to the estate outside the city. Liu's mother naturally cried and begged, saying that her husband and son were in the mansion and it would be very inconvenient for her to be sent to the estate.

So the lady said, "In that case, the whole family should go to the estate." Thus, the three of them were all driven out.

They called the Zhu family of three, who were originally staying at the estate, up here.

Zhu Dashun thus took over Li Fu's job; the four of them were originally working in pairs. Sun Wan and Wang San both said it was the same as usual, except that Zhao Chun had diarrhea one night and had to run around all night. Zhu Dashun, who was working with him, said he slept like a log and knew nothing.

Gong Xu snorted and chuckled upon hearing this, his lips pressed tightly together. Madam Song knew he was extremely angry to act this way.

“Master, a family like ours shouldn’t go to court over something worth a thousand or ten taels of silver. A noble earl’s mansion can’t afford to lose face like that. But things still need to be explained,” Steward Chen took out the silver notes again. “It’s all my fault, no matter how bad it is, it’s still my fault as steward. I have no face to stay any longer…”

"You can go now!" Gong Xu lowered his head slightly, his eyes fixed on the empty space in front of the table. "Whoever is at fault should take responsibility. I don't allow traitors to be harbored here!"

Butler Chen wanted to say something more, but Madam Song gave him a wink, and he meekly withdrew.

"Quickly make tea for the master, and tell the kitchen to stew a bowl of liver-soothing soup." Madam Song got up and gently patted Gong Xu's back, then hurriedly instructed Granny Yang.

"That vile woman!" Once Granny Yang left the room, Gong Xu couldn't help but curse out loud.

"Please calm down, sir. Let's ask about it behind closed doors," Madam Song continued, feigning kindness. "Perhaps there's some misunderstanding here."

"What misunderstanding could there be? Isn't it obvious?" Gong Xu sneered, his eyes narrowing slightly, his cheeks turning blue, making him look quite frightening. "She took advantage of our absence to act like a queen, and has lived a life of poverty all these years. Now that she's back, of course she wants to find ways to grab some money for herself."

"If she hadn't ordered it, who among the servants in this mansion would dare to steal? Would they be courting death? She's certain that even if she gets caught, we'll have no recourse but to suffer in silence, which is why she's so fearless!"

Gong Xu grew angrier as he spoke, and he pushed a jade table screen off the table, smashing it into several pieces.

"Master, be careful not to hurt your hand." Madam Song held Gong Xu's hand tightly and pulled it to her chest, saying anxiously and with heartache, "Master, just consider those things as alms; they're not worth much anyway. Your health is the most important thing; don't let a small thing cause you great harm."

"That bitch! I knew she wouldn't come back for anything good! I was too kind to let her live in this house." Gong Xu regretted his actions. Wen Mingqian was a venomous snake. Even if she looked frozen, she would bite back if given the slightest chance.

"So what does the master intend to do?" Madam Song thought smugly, but her face remained impassive. "What to do? I want to confront her!" Gong Xu gritted his teeth. "Throw her out!"

"No, please, sir!" Madam Song desperately tried to stop him.

A confrontation? Absolutely not! Are you going to give Wen Mingqian a chance to defend himself?
All she needed was for Gong Xu to completely despise Wen Mingqian once again from the bottom of her heart, and to believe that she was utterly hopeless.

"Xiulian, don't stop me. She's so shameless, why should you plead for her?" Gong Xu was furious, his three spirits raging.

“Master, even if Madam is wrong, we can’t overlook the Fourth Young Master!” Madam Song cried. “That child is truly pitiful. If you leave, how will he face himself? How will he ever hold his head up again?”

"Xiulian, you..." Facing Song Shi, Gong Xu couldn't vent his anger no matter how much he was angry. "You always think of others."

“Master, I’m not that kind-hearted,” Madam Song said, tears streaming down her face, looking at Gong Xu with deep affection. “I’m only thinking of you. The Fourth Young Master is your own flesh and blood. You and your son haven’t seen each other for many years. You should make amends.”

If this little thing causes you any resentment, it could last a lifetime!
"What son wouldn't side with his own mother? If you go and question and scold your wife, how will the fourth young master ever be close to you again?"

"She's morally corrupt and has set a bad example for her child!" Gong Xu thought about it a step further and felt an even stronger hatred for Wen Mingqian.

“But even if you go, how can Madam admit it? Just like back then, she will force you to go to court, and the whole household will lose face.” Song’s tears flowed like a spring. “My lord, I still endured the tragic death of my Kang’er back then.”

It's not that I don't love my son, nor that I don't hate her. It's just that I know the future of the Gong family and the old master's reputation are the most important things..."

"You really are... what can I say!" Gong Xu sighed deeply, pulled Song Shi into his arms, and was no longer indignant. "If she could be half as good as you, she wouldn't be causing so much trouble in the household."

“Master, things have come to this point, there’s no need to dwell on it.” Madam Song wiped away her tears and said, “People say that if your arm is broken in your sleeve, you have to swallow your teeth. Just deal with those servants and that’s it, there’s no need to make a fuss anymore.”

"That wicked woman got off too easily!" Although Gong Xu was unwilling, he had already decided to give up. "When the old lady comes back, I will definitely get her out of here!"

"Alright, sir, no matter what I say, your health is the most important thing." Having achieved her goal, Madam Song began to coax Gong Xu again.

She knew in her heart that men all liked gentle women.

If you can win them over with sweet words and sweet talk, you can order them around like dogs.

At this moment, Granny Yang had already brought over the liver-soothing soup and instructed the little maid to clean up the floor.

Gong Xu ordered, "Drive Zhu Dashun and his family out of the capital. They are not allowed to settle down here."

How can such a servant be allowed to live, given Wen Mingqian's instigation to steal?!
So early in the morning, don't you all want to drink a cup of green tea to soothe your eyes?

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(End of this chapter)